Pilgrimage to the Holy Land

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
State Medal, 5738-1978

Christian pilgrimage to the Holy Land is as old as Christianity itself. Strong is the desire of many Christians to behold with their own eyes the surroundings where Jesus and the apostles were born and where they preached. Reading the Bible becomes more meaningful to a person who has visited the places mentioned therein.
In the view of the pious Christian, Israel is the center of the world and Jerusalem, the center of Israel. This is best illustrated on a map, engraved in wood, produced in Germany in 1581. Three continents are shown on the map and seem to be sprouting forth from Jerusalem.

Discription of the medal:
Obverse: A 16th-century map drawn by the German cartographer, Heinrich Bintung, which shows Jerusalem standing in the center of three continents. Above, an inscription "Holy Land" in Hebrew and 'Terra Sancta" in Latin.

Reverse: The verse "They all gather and come to you". Isaiah 60:4. Around the rim, the English and French translation.

Edge: The State emblem and the words "State of Israel" in Hebrew and English. The silver medals bear "Silver 935" in Hebrew and "Sterling" in English.

Serialization: All medals have been numbered.

Designer: Ya'akov Anidi.

Engraving: Kretschmer.

Mint: Kretschmer.